JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State volleyball team prepares for one of its toughest weekends of the season with perennial powers Murray State and Austin Peay visiting Pete Mathews Coliseum this weekend.
The Gamecocks (12-8, 6-2 Ohio Valley) sit in a four-way tie for first-place in the conference standings at the halfway point of the OVC schedule. To retain that position, JSU will do battle with the two teams that split last year's championships. Murray State (12-8, 6-2 OVC) went to the NCAA Tournament last season after winning the OVC Tournament, following Austin Peay's (7-15, 5-3 OVC) regular season title.
In the midst of Friday's 6 p.m. marquee matchup with MSU, the Gamecocks will also be celebrating their annual Pink-Out game to help raise awareness for the fight against cancers. Fans are encouraged to wear pink and come out to watch two first-place teams battle it out at The Pete. JSU's award-winning pep band HARDCORP will be at the pivotal match, and fans in attendance will have the chance to win select gift cards courtesy of JSU Athletic Marketing.
The Gamecocks beat the Racers two years ago in Jacksonville, but have struggled of late against MSU, dropping six of the last seven matches since the Racers rose to the top of the league with championships in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018. Highlighting MSU's season is Rachel Giustino who ranks in the top six nationally in six offensive categories, including second in the NCAA with 384 kills.
Across the net, JSU brings an impressive offense of its own into Friday night with the top hitting unit in the OVC averaging .238 mark for the season. Sophomore
Lena Kindermann and senior
Kaylee Frear boasts two of the best hitting clips in the league through eight matches, and junior setter
Lexie Libs continues to set the bar high with 789 assists (11.11 per set) for the year.
On Saturday, the intensity continues with Austin Peay visiting JSU for an 11 a.m. match prior to the JSU football game across campus. The Governors brought an end to JSU's season a year ago in the semifinals of the OVC Tournament. The reigning regular season champs have found their rhythm since entering OVC play after a tough non-conference slate that featured six matches against the ACC, Big Ten, Big XII and SEC. APSU topped Texas Tech in the preseason, and enters Saturday match coming off consecutive OVC sweeps last weekend.
Prior to first serve against APSU, the JSU volleyball program will honor its first alum to be inducted to the school's athletic hall of fame with a brief ceremony recognizing three-time All-American, Abbey Breit.
Friday night's match will stream on ESPN+ and both contests will feature live stats available at JSUGamecockSports.com. Admission is free to all JSU home volleyball matches.
